Ironing press, in particular for jackets and the like

ABSTRACT

An ironing press suitable for pressing outerwear garments is disclosed. A form-shaped body for carrying an item to be pressed is positioned on a rotatable support table which in turn is mounted on a carriage member movable between a garment mounting station and a pressing station. A plurality of press platens divided into at least two groups are provided. Each group is movable consecutively into pressing position against the shaped body with the individual platen members of each group having no mutual overlap with each other of the garment areas pressed by their ironing surfaces. The groups of platens each overlap in part the area covered by the remaining group so that the entire surface of the article is pressed.

United States Patent [1 1 I1 11 3,749,292 Engelbart July 31, 1973IRONING PRESS, IN PARTICULAR FOR 3,144,969 8/1964 Kannegiesser et al.'223/57 X JACKETS AND THE LIKE 3,378,l78 4/1968 Stewart 223/57 [75]Inventor: Wilhelm Engelhart,

Seelscheid-Nackausen, Germany [731 Assignee: Hoffman Rheem MaschinenGmhll,

. Cologne, Germany [22] Filed: July 31, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 276,543

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data July 31, 1971 Germany P 21 38490.7

[52] U.S Cl. 223/57 [51] Int. Cl. D06c 15/00 [58] Field of Search223/72, 74, 57, 70

[56] References Cited 1 UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,494,516 2/1970 McMillan223/57 3,486,667 12/1969 McMillan 223/57 Primary Examiner- Geo. V.Larkin Attorney-Neil F. Markva and John C. Smith, Jr.

[57 ABSTRACT An ironing press suitable for pressing outerwear garmentsis disclosed. A form-shaped body for carrying an item to be pressed ispositioned on a rotatable support table which in turn is mounted on acarriage member movable between a garment mounting station and apressing station. A plurality of press platens divided into at least twogroups are provided. Each group is movable consecutively into pressingposition against the shaped body with the individual platen members ofeach group having no mutual overlap with each other of the garment areaspressed by their ironing surfaces. The groups of platens each overlap inpart the area covered by the remaining group so that the entire surfaceof the article is pressed.

7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENIH] JUL 3 I I973 sum 1 or 5 NJ, Q

Flex:

PAIENIEU JUL 3 1 I975 SHEET 2 OF 5 l Lr x k IRONING PRESS, IN PARTICULARFOR JACKETS AND THE LHKE The invention relates to an ironing press, inparticular for jackets and the like, comprising, a shaped body, arrangedvertically and being movable between receiving and ironing stations,with an operating and several pressing stations and with press platensprovided for horizontal, inclined and vertical operation.

ironing presses are known for ironing front parts, back parts and sideparts of outerwear garments through utilization of several operating andpressing stations, these presses having press platens provided forhorizontal operation. Such ironing presses are constructed so as topermit only the treatment of a predetermined partial area of anouterwear garment to be ironed. In order to iron outerwear garments intheir entirety, it is necessary to make use of several ironing presses;after part of the garment has been ironed, the garment must betransferred to the shaped body of another ironing press. When this isdone, the proper fit of the garment on the shaped body may be changed,thereby requiring additional aligning operations. Moreover, the multiplehandling or garments, i.e., transfer and fitting, as well as the use ofseveral machines involves a considerable expenditure of capital andlabor.

It is also known to iron certain articles of clothing such as coats,apron dresses, lingerie, shirts, etc. in one operation. To accomplishthis, press platens extending uniformly over the total length of thegarment are utilized, and the design of the length and width of theplatens is such that the garment is entirely enclosed by the platensupon their closure, in the same way that a corset would press thegarment against the shaped body. The seams between the press platens runin a vertical direction since the clothing is ironed in an up-downdirection in strips. Ironing of clothing in this manner may besuccessfully done with clothing of a specific type, for example, shirts,lingerie, coats and apron dresses.

Ironing of large areas of a garment in this way cannot be successfullyaccomplished with an article of clothing intended as outerwear, becausedue to its lining and padding at various locations, it displaysdifferent thicknesses. In trying to iron large areas of such a garmentby employing large surface press platens, deficiencies will arisebecause different surface parts of the clothing generally also call fordifferent ironing operations as regards the amount of pressure,direction of the pressure, etc. As a result, it has been preferred inthe case of outwear such as jackets, etc. having different linings atdifferent locations, to use, in spite of a greater expenditure, aplurality of ironing presses each of which irons only a part of thegarment. The fact must then be accepted, however, that for the ironingof each surface, the garment must be transferred to the shaped body ofanother ironing press.

It is an object of the present invention to create an ironing press ofthe type mentioned at the outset to iron a jacket or the like, whichpress may be operated with great speed, high efficiency and reliabilityto produce high quality ironing work, and which permits an easyadaptation to the changing requirements of ironing completely differentfabrics and articles of clothing requiring different treatment.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an ironingpress having a plurality of groups or arrangements of two or more pressplatens, wherein these groups are capable of being consecutivelyactuated from a non-pressure position to a pressure position against theshaped body carrying the garment, and back again to a non-pressureposition. The press platens in each group do not overlap one anothel,but the total area covered by the platens in one group partiallyoverlaps the area covered by the other groups.

Due to such a design of the ironing press, it is possible to ironclothing, in particular outerwear such as jackets and the like, in onecoherent operation even if different cuts and sizes of the outerwearmust be treated and to exclude marking due to formation of creases ordisplacements at the transition points of the individual ironing pressplatens. It is furthermore possible to carry out a number of ironingoperations not only on the lapels, back, shoulder parts, and collar, butalso in the area of the sleeve, pocket, flap and division plates withoutthe occurrence of a displacement of the material to be ironed or theformation of creases. All the surfaces to be ironed on an outerweargarment are quickly treated by means of the groups of overlapping pressplatens which are applied consecutively to the garment while it is onthe same shaped body.

It is also possible with the arrangement of the ironing press accordingto the invention to iron in a quick cycle operation. With the existenceof specially designed press platens for styling, back, collar, sleeve,shoulder, flap, and slash portions (portions having an ornamental slit)of the garment which are capable of being pressed against the up-rightpositioned form-shaped body, correspondingly round surfaces of thegarment with transitions to the side parts may be ironed in oneoperation. Due to the vertical position of the form-shaped body, andalso to the individual press platens which, however, partly overlap, itis possible to carry out the ironing work, so that the back part and theother side parts of the jacket under treatment do not change their form.The possibility that the material to be ironed will be displaced on theshaped body is small. Even with the use of strongly profiled form-shapedbodies for ironing, the formation of mispressures as well as theformation of creases is eliminated. On account of the vertical feed ofthe shaped body, the possibilities created for arranging the pressplatens are favorable. A simple construction results in a robust ironingpress design.

It is advantageous to provide several groups of press platens withplatens provided for individual parts of the garment offset with respectto each other concerning their individual ironing surfaces. Among thepress platens for specific garment parts are provided some for theregion of the flaps and/or the lateral and/or rear slash area of thejacket as well as for the lower and upper lapel area. These platens maybe hinged adjustably and/or pivotably at the structure frame. It issuitable to fit several of these platens at the feed assembly,particularly in an interchangeable manner.

It is convenient to subdivide the shaped body into individual ironingsurfaces which cover always only a predetermined area of the shapedbody. To this effect, all of the press platens are provided in such away that the essential pressure movement direction is approximatelyvertical relative to the essential ironing plane.

The shaped body may be mounted so as to rotate on its displacing device.One may arrest the final position of rotation of the shaped body bymeans of a stop device. To control the individual press platens anddisplacing drives, it is possible to provide a cyclic altemating programcontrol.

The invention will now be explained with the aid of the working examplesillustrated in the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic front view of the ironing press.

FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic longitudinal crossscction taken along line22 of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a schematic cross-section along the lines 33 and 44of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows an enlargement of the lower section of the supporting tablewith a stop device.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the supporting table with the two stop positionsupon a swing of 180.

Ironing press has a front receiving station 21 and a rear ironingstation 22. It is provided with a frame 25 resting on legs 26 adjustablein height. On frame 25 are provided two guides 27 upon which carriage 29is displaceably carried by means of rollers 28, the carriage beingarrestable and capable of being rotated about 180) For its displacementdrive, there is provided a shifting cylinder 30, the piston rod 31 ofwhich engages at carriage 29.

Carriage 29 carries the vertically disposed form shaped body 34consisting of shaped body elements 35, 36, 37 and 38 which, togetherwith steam chambers, heating coils and flap-shaping press platens 125,135 and slash-shaping press platens 145, 155, 165 are mounted on theswivelable and lockable supporting table 39. Flap-shaping press platens125, 135 and slash press platens 145, 155, 165 are secured to telescopicpressure arms and are easily adjustable in height. All the flapandslashshaping platens are provided with a number of the usual passboresallowing steam to be fed from the steam chest through the flap and slashpress platens and, via the mentioned bores and the ironing padding,through the item to be pressed as well. The supporting table 39, beingrotatably driven by motor 39.7 and lockable, is designed in such a waythat a guide bushing 39.2 is mounted at table plate 39.1. (FIG. 5).Cylinder 39.5 is mounted at carriage 29. At its end, cylinder piston rod39.4 carries the guide piston 39.3 which is guided by a sliding sleeve39.6. The supporting table 39 is locked by the engagement of the guidepiston 39.3 into guide bushing 39.2.

The form shaped body 34 consists of the upper body element 35, the lowerbody element 36 serving as back panel bottom part and the lower bodyelements 37 and 38. Its shape is such as to ensure a good fit of thejackets to be ironed, within a certain range of sizes. In the area ofcollar and sleeves (not illustrated), shaped body top part 35 containsseparate chambers with connections for steam, vacuum and blowing.

The individual elements of the shaped body are provided with (notillustrated) steam, condensate and suction connectors, and the sleevearea is provided with a connector for compressed air. The control forsteam,- suction and air is realized by the program control unit 202.Thus, it is possible to supply compressed air or suction at differenttimes and at different areas of the shaped body, and to impart either ofthese via the bodyshaped ironing padding to the item to be pressed forthe corresponding effect.

FIG. 2 shows shaped body 34 in the rear pressing station 22. By shiftingcarriage 29 in FIG. 2 to the right, the shaped body 34 is brought to thefront receiving station 21 (dotted position). In pressing station 22,there are provided on a correspondingly designed supporting frame 40,one or two inclined or vertical, swivelable or stationary pressurecylinders 41, 51, 61, 71, 81, 91, 101, 111, 113 for each upper pressplaten. Their projecting piston rods act in each case on a pressurelever system 46, 56, 66, 76, 86, 96, 106 and traverse 117 respectively.On the pressure lever system and the traverse respectively, there arefitted the steam chest 44, 54, 64, 74, 84, 94, 104, 115 with pressplaten adjustment 47, 57, 67, 77, 87, 97, 107, 118 to which the shapingpress platens concerned Le, 45, 55, 65, 75, 85, 95, 105, and 116, aresecured. Thus, by means of the pressure cylinders, it is possible tocontrol the engaging and retracting movement of the press platens andthe amount of pressure with which they are brought against theform-shaped body.

Each steam chest 44, 54, 64, 74, 84, 94, 104, 115, 144, 154 is providedwith a (not illustrated) steam connection to which, via movablecircuits, steam may be fed to heat the steam chests and the pressplatens. The

shaping press platens are hollow and of open design toward the sideclosely set on the steam chest. They are profiled in accordance with thefashioning of the parts to be ironed, and the pressure surfaces whichare fitted with an ironing padding are provided with a great number ofbores for the passage of steam. Between the steam chest and press platencavity is situated a valve (not illustrated) which permits the steamfrom the steam chest to pass through the platen concerned and, via thementioned bores and the ironing padding, through the item to be ironed.

Pressing station 22 is surrounded by a protective and suction casing 181which is closed except for the side 183 which is open toward thereceiving station and which is provided with a connector stub 182connected in each case to a suction pipe (not illustrated) and is incommunication with a blower in order to draw off the steam formed in thepressing chamber and to prevent the same from escaping in the directionof the receiving station 21 or to the rest of the workroom duringpressing.

The ironing press 20 is equipped in a manner known per se withappropriate connecting pipes, valves, switches, and the like for theactuation of the different drive cylinders and for feeding steam andapplying vacuum to the connecting pipes. Moreover, it is equipped with aprogram control 202, 203 which is housed in the control cabinet at theleft side of the receiving station 21. For example, it is organized as acardprogrammed control system for several parallel and consecutiveprograms which are inter-locked with respect to each other and whichpermit optimum use of the control organs within the machine any of whichmay be selected by depressing a knob. This control system conventionallyoperates the supply and disconnection of steam, vacuum, or compressedair at the appropriate points.

At the right side of the receiving station 21, there is fitted holder220 for the hand steaming and ironing platen 230. It consists of aheatable supporting plate 221 with a thermostatically adjustable switch,steam drier 222, electric connection for a hand steaming platen 230, asteam valve 224 and a steam quantity regulator 225. The hand steamingand ironing platen 230 is deposed on the holder 220 in a convenientposition. This hand steaming and ironing platen 230 is light weightpreferably below 1000 gm, e.g.,, about 500 to 800 gm. It comprises abottom plate with steam discharge, an expansion chamber, a steamconnector and steam pipe in which heating zones are provided to preventcondensation. Via the expansion chambers and the discharge chamber,steam passes through the discharge bores of the bottom plate into theopen air. To protect the hand from thermal radiation, insulation and alining are provided. The hand protection provided by the insulatedpadding permits easy handling and manipulation.

Press platen 116 has surfaces overlapping with press platens 95 and 105respectively and with press platens 45, 55 and 66 respectively. Pressureplatens 95 and 105 respectively have common overlapping surfaces withpress platens 75 and 85 respectively. The platen provided for the backextends practically over the breadth of the back surface of the upperpart of shaped body 35.

The ironing press operates essentially as follows:

Switches 200 and 201 are turned on. After the jacket has been put on theshaped body 34 in the receiving station, and after its properarrangement thereon, the side slash press platens 145, 155 or the centerslash press platen 165 is applied as appropriate. The locking of thesupporting table 39 is achieved via a pedal switch. The selection forthe garment length may be made via selector switch 199. If necessary,vacuum may be applied during the dressing of the item by actuating thepedal switch 216 until the program starts. If an interruption isdesired, the fix-vacuum may be disconnected by pressing push button 198.

By pressing push button 195, carriage 29 with shaped body 34 advancesfrom the receiving station 21 to the ironing station 22, thus being inpressing position. First of all, subject to the selection of theprogram, the press platen 55 or 65 presses against the shaped body 34simultaneously with the back press platen 45. Both of them arecontrolled simultaneously as to their function. Said functions extendover the steps of pressing, ventilating top steam, vacuuming, andblowing.

Upon termination of this part of the program, the press platens selectedby the program 45, and 55 or 65 are removed from the shaped body 34, andthe next part of the program begins. Collanshaping press platen 116 islowered onto shaped body 34. At the same time, the two sleeve-shapingpress platens 75 and 85, controlled in parallel, are pressed on rightand left sides within the sleeve area of the shaped body. The programcard controls the operations of pressing, ventilating, top andundersteam, vacuuming, blowing and steaming, etc. in such a way thatthese actions may be applied in different positions of the press platens116, 75 and 85 or via shaped body 34 to become effective on the item tobe pressed. Upon termination of the second part of the program and uponremoval of press platens 116, 75 and 85 from the shaped body34, thesimultaneous lowering of shoulder-shaping press platens 95 and 105initiates the next part of the program. Also, the flap press platens125, 135 and the slash press platens 145, 155 or 165 have been put intooperation. Just as in the other parts of the program, pressing,ventilating, top steam, vacumming and blowing, and steaming for theshoulder press platens 95 and 105 are controlled such as to act on theitem to be pressed via shouldershaping press platens 95 and 105 or 145,155 or 165,

or via shaped body 34. The ironing operation is terminated when the flappress platens 125, 135 and the slash press platens 95, have beenwithdrawn. The shoulder press platens 95, 105 are removed last.Thereafter, the carriage 29 with the shaped body 34 may be automaticallywithdrawn from the ironing station 22 in order to go to the receivingstation 21. When the shaped body 34 has arrived in its final position inthe receiving station 21, unlocking may be carried out by means of thepedal switch 213, whereby the supporting table is again rotatable.

I claim:

1. An ironing press suitable for pressing outerwear garments, comprisinga form-shaped body for carrying an item to be pressed and a plurality ofpress platens, said press platens being divided into at least twogroups, each group being movable consecutively into pressing positionagainst said shaped body and the individual platen members of each grouphaving no mutual overlap with each other of garment areas pressed bytheir ironing surfaces, whereas said groups of platens each overlap inpart the area covered by the remaining groups whereby the entire surfaceof the article is pressed.

2. An ironing press according to claim 1, wherein a number of the saidpress platens is specifically designed to press areas of the garmentpresenting exterior tailoring modifications including pocket flaps,lateral and rear slash areas and upper and lower lapel areas.

3. An ironing press according to claim 2, further comprising a supporttable to which a plurality of said press platens are movably attached,said support table carrying said form-shaped body in such a manner topermit said press platens to be pressed against said shaped body.

4. An ironing press according to claim 3, wherein said form-shaped bodycomprises in its lower portion a generally planar member facing to therear so as to be contiguous with the rear slash area of a carriedgarment, and two laterally directed generally planar members beingcontiguous with the lateral slash and pocket flap areas of a carriedgarment.

5. An ironing press according to claim 4, wherein said press platensattached to said support table and said members in the lower portion ofsaid shaped body are designed so as to be interchangeable with otherlike elements, whereby different garment designs may be.

compensated for.

6. An ironing press according to claim 3, wherein said support tablecarrying the shaped body comprises a carriage member capable of beingrotated and moved laterally between a garment mounting station and apressing station, said carriage member being arrestable at both of saidstations as well as in a plurality of positions of rotation.

7. An ironing press according to claim 6, further comprising a cyclicalternating automatic control means for controlling the pressingoperation of the individual press platens and the movement of saidcarriage member between said garment mounting and pressing stations.

1 l I. i

1. An ironing press suitable for pressing outerwear garments, comprisinga form-shaped body for carrying an item to be pressed and a plurality ofpress platens, said press platens being divided into at least twogroups, each group being movable consecutively into pressing positionagainst said shaped body and the individual platen members of each grouphaving no mutual overlap with each other of garment areas pressed bytheir ironing surfaces, whereas said groups of platens each overlap inpart the area covered by the remaining groups whereby the entire surfaceof the article is pressed.
 2. An ironing press according to claim 1,wherein a number of the said press platens is specifically designed topress areas of the garment presenting exterior tailoring modificationsincluding pocket flaps, lateral and rear slash areas and upper and lowerlapel areas.
 2. An ironing press according to claim 2, furthercomprising a support table to which a plurality of said press platensare movably attached, said support table carrying said form-shaped bodyin such a manner to permit said press platens to be pressed against saidshaped body.
 4. An ironing press according to claim 3, wherein saidform-shaped body comprises in its lower portion a generally planarmember facing to the rear so as to be contiguous with the rear slasharea of a carried garment, and two laterally directed generally planarmembers being contiguous with the lateral slash and pocket flap areas ofa carried garment.
 5. An ironing press according to claim 4, whereinsaid press platens attached to said support table and said members inthe lower portion of said shaped body are designed so as to beinterchangeable with other like elements, whereby different garmentdesigns may be compensated for.
 6. An ironing press according to claim3, wherein said support table carrying the shaped body comprises acarriage member capable of being rotated and moved laterally between agarment mounting station and a pressing station, said carriage memberbeing arrestable at both of said stations as well as in a plurality ofpositions of rotation.
 7. An ironing press according to claim 6, furthercomprising a cyclic alternating automatic control means for controllingthe pressing operation of the individual press platens and the movementof said carriage member between said garment mounting and pressingstations.